Sample Test Questions From the ANKF Kyudo Magazine

From the Kyudo magazine April edition 2000:

SHODAN
1. State the good things you have learned through your kyudo study.
2. State the purpose of your kyudo study.
3. List the shaho hassetsu and explain about ashibumi.NIDAN
1. State about the objectives of your kyudo training.
2. State the good things you have learned through your kyudo study.
3. Explain about the toriyumi posture.
4. List and explain the 8 basic movements.
5. State how important the correct shooting form is.
6. State about the purpose of your taking a test.SANDAN
1. State about the difficult areas of your kyudo training.
2. State about the applications of kyudo training to everyday life.
3. Explain about your mind set when performing the 8 basic movements.
4. List the kihontai and explain.

From the Kyudo magazine February edition 2000:

YONDAN
1. State about kihontai.
2. State how important the correct shooting form is.
3. Explain about the points to consider when performing the basic movements.
4. Explain about tsumeai and nobiai.
5. Explain about the awareness of shitsu and the method of recovery.GODAN
1. State about the mind set of taking a test and the significance of taking a test.
2. State about the moral educational effects of practicing kyudo.
3. Explain about the important points of beginner instruction.
4. Explain how the hanare should be.ROKUDAN
1. Explain the objectives (doctrine) of modern kyudo.
2. State about the basics of shooting kyusha (shaho-shagi no kihon).

From the Kyudo magazine May edition 1999:

SHODAN
1. State the ways that kyudo is better than other sports.
2. State the good things you have learned through your kyudo study.
3. State the purpose of your kyudo training.
4. State about your awareness (mind set) of your training.NIDAN
1. Explain the purpose of your taking a test.
2. Explain how important is correct shooting tadashi shaho).
3. State what you have gained through the study of kyudo.SANDAN
1. State about Heijoshin which is important while shooting.
2. State about the applications of kyudo training to everyday life.
3. State about your feelings toward kyudo training.
4. List the basic postures and explain their important points.

From the December, 1998 edition:

Shodan
1. State the purpose of your kyudo training.
2. Explain about kyudo from the perspective of both etiquette and sport.
3. State the good things you have learned through your kyudo study.Nidan
1. State what you think are the good things about kyudo.
2. Explain the aspects of kyudo that are different from other sports.
3. Explain about Shintai Shuusen Kanarazu Rei ni Ataru
(The shooting, with the round of moving forward or backward can never be
without courtesy and propriety (rei) - first paragraph of the
Raiki-Shagi). Sandan
1. State about Heijoshin (everyday mind) when you conduct shooting.
2. State your opinions about the Kyudo Magazine.
3. Explain about the important points of forming Daisan.
4. Explain about your application of kyudo training to your daily life.
5. State the awareness you have in your daily practice.Yondan
1. Explain the supreme goal of kyudo training.
2. Explain how important "The proper shooting form"
(tadashi shakei) is.
3. Explain how the Daisan preparation effects shooting.
4. Explain the structure (formation) of Kai.

From the Kyudo magazine February edition, 1999:

Godan
1. Explain about Heijoshin (everyday mind).
2. Explain about Kai.
3. Explain about Hanare.Rokudan
1. Explain about the main objectives of kyudo (four items listed on page 8 of kyohon by Master Yoozaburo Uno).
2. Explain the kyu-sha no kihon (principles of shooting technique i.e. shaho-shagi no kihon as listed on page 56).
3. Explain about Sanmi Ittai (three essentials united as one).
4. Explain the importance of Daisan and Hikiwake.
5. Explain about the important points of beginner instruction.Renshi
1. Explain about the necessity to maintain the Kihontaikei
(basic body form, item 2 of the 5 fundamentals of shooting principle
and shooting skill, page 56 of kyohon.)
2. Explain the relationship between shooting technique and Taihai.
3. State how you think kyudo training should be (answer should include
the four main objectives of Master Uno. Don’t just state your personal
opinions).

From the February 1998 edition:

Yondan
1. State about mental preparation and attitude in the performance
of shooting.
2. Explain about the importance of taihai.
3. Explain about tsume and nobi in kai.
4. Explain about the importance of zanshin (remaining spirit,
remaining posture).Godan
1. State the significance of taking rank tests.
2. What are your thoughts about zanshin (remaining spirit,
remaining posture).Rokudan
1. State the critical points of instructing beginners.
2. Explain kyudo instruction principles from both mental and
technical aspects.
3. State your thoughts about shahin and shakaku.
4. Cite examples of shitsu and explain how to recover from
them.Renshi
1. Explain how the preparation for daisan influences
shooting.
2. State about the critical points of instructing beginners.

From the December, 1997 edition:

Shodan
1. State what motivation caused you to start Kyudo.
2. With what attitude do you approach kyudo training?
3. List the shaho hassetsu in order and explain the importance
of ashibumi.Nidan
1. State the good things you have experienced through kyudo training.
2. State your impressions about kyudo training.
3. Explain with what intentions are you studying kyudo.Sandan
1. Explain about the underlying principles of the basic
movements (kihondosa).
2. Explain the good outcome of makiwara practice.
3. Explain the important points of the kai structure.

From the February 1997 edition:

Nidan
1. State about the good things you have gained through your kyudo study.
2. Explain the meaning of "The shooting, with the round of moving forward or
backward can never be without courtesy and propriety (rei)" from the
Raiki-Shagi.
3. State how important zanshin is.Sandan
1. State the difference between kyudo and other sports.
2. State your feelings about your kyudo training.
3. State some of the important points in forming daisan.Yondan
1. State the importance of tahiai.
2. Explain about goju-jumonji.3. Explain about the structure of kai.

From the March, 1994 edition:

Shodan
1. State your motivation for beginning kyudo.
2. State the objectives (or goals) of your kyudo training.
3. Explain with what kind of feelings do you approach your study of kyudo.
4. State what you have learned or gained through your kyudo training.
5. State the good aspects of kyudo in comparison to other sports.
6. Explain about kyudo as an etiquette-sport.
7. State the good points of your dojo.
8. List the shaho hasettsu in order and explain dozukuri.
9. List the shaho hasettsu and briefly explain each step.
10. Explain about ashibumi.
11. Simply explain about sanjujumonji.Nidan
1. What do you like about kyudo?
2. State what you feel through your kyudo training.
3. Explain how important it is to have a proper shooting form.
4. Explain why zanshin is very important.

From The April, 1994 edition:

Sandan
1. Explain about the toriyumi posture.
2. State about how to prevent accidents in the shooting area.
3. State about the points to be concerned with in kyudo instruction.Yondan
1. State about the significance of taking tests.
2. Explain why they say "Shooting is life."
3. List the kihontai and explain its importance.
4. Explain about the critical points of kai.
5. State about the important points of gazing (mezukai) as they relate to the
fundamental shooting movements (8 remarks about fundamental movement).Godan
1. Explain the basic movements.
2. State about your effort to improve heijoshin.
3. Explain about ikiai.Rokudan
1. Explain about "shooting is life".
2. State your kyudo training principles in order to be an instructor.Renshi
1. Explain about the resistance of the bow.
2. Take some examples of shitsu and write about the recovery from them.
3. Explain about the moral and cultural effects of kyudo training.

From the Feb. 2000 issue:

Yondan
1) Explain about kinhontai.
2) Explain how important the correct shooting form is.
3) Explain about the underlying principles of the basic movements (kihon dosa).
4) Explain tsumeai and nobiai.
5) Explain the mindset of shitsu and how to recover from shitsu.Godan
1) Write about the preparation and the significance of taking tests.
2. State about the moral educational effects (tokuekuteki) of practicing kyudo.
3) State the critical points of instructing beginners.
4) Explain how the hanare should be.

From the May 2000, edition.

Renshi
1) Write about the cautions (kokoeru) you will take as an instructor.

From the June 2000 edition.

Shodan
1) Explain why you choose kyudo as a sport.
2) Write about the good things you have learned through your kyudo training.
3) What things do you pay attention to for safety.Nidan
1) How do you calm yourself when you take an action.
2) Write about the good things you have learned through your kyudo training.
3) List the shaho hassetsu and explain the importance of ashibumi.Sandan
1) Explain the difference of kyudo from other sports.
2) List the shaho hassetsu and explain about zanshin.

From the April 2015 Special Test in Nagoya, Japan

In order to ensure impartiality and fairness, the written
exam subjects for Prefectural Shinsa and Regional Shinsa will be made public
from April 2015.In all Shinsa, the
written exam should be made up of 2 subjects: 1 from the A list and 1 from the
B list.